As we see the growing forces of evil, and the strangely perilous happenings in every area of the world, we must courageously face the scriptural fact that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rules of the darkness of this world (it’s right in this world), against spiritual wickedness in high places (it’s a spiritual conflict) Eph. 6:12. We must get back to the scriptural practice of dealing with satanic power. In this day in which God has given much light on the subject, there is no excuse for ignorance.
The first step is to face the fact that you have an enemy. Jesus called this personal enemy Satan, and the devil. Identify him?
Some come to me and say we do not have to fuss and worry about the devil. We are not worrying, nor are we frustrated; but we are boldly challenging the devil in the dominion of Jesus’ Name. We are resisting him as our Lord has commanded us.
Some come to me and say, “Why bother at all, the devil is gone; we do not have to resist him anymore.” If Satan is absent, then I would like to know who is carrying on his business during his absence. But friend, the Bible is very clear in teaching us that there is an enemy to resist, and that he is not some figment of the imagination. The devil is a being very cunning, and of vastly superior intelligence. He is public enemy number one!
Science and history have come to the stage where they recognize the existence of a strange supernatural power of evil unleashed in the world. The Bible in affirming the existence of the personality of Satan, describes his origin, characteristics and activities in detail. He is described as the Adversary, the Oppressor, The Deceiver, the Thief, the Accuser of the Brethren, the Destroyer, the Prince of the Power of the Air, as the temptor, the defamer, and the father of all lies.
Right here let me ask you, “Are you afraid of the powers of darkness? Are you afraid of the devil?” then be glad you are reading what I am writing. You need not fear him any longer. “For the righteous are bold as a lion” (Prov. 28:1), and “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (II Tim. 1:7). And, “greater is He (the Lord) in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4).
I tell you: recognize your enemy for what he is! Notice that in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he labels the enemy as “The Prince of the Power of the Air.” As such, the Bible teaches that he is at the head of a diabolical organization of evil spirits. These are the fallen angels, now energized by Satan to combat the plans and purposes of God, and to destroy the lives of God’s children, yea of all God’s created beings. Everything to do with the devil and his evil spirits is destructive! Demon spirits are the force behind every godless element you observe in this world.
This is the ultimate aim of this treacherous enemy: To mar and to scar; to so disfigure the image of God in people; to twist and tangle people’s minds; to saturate lives with filth and rot; and to drag human souls into a Christless eternity “where there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Satan uses human instruments to destroy the human family. It seems pitiful that man should yield himself to the devil as a medium through which his own human brotherhood should be destroyed. How often our sweet baby boys and girls are corrupted and robbed of their purity of heart before they reach the high school grades; nothing is left pure and holy to them! The holy secrets of life are dragged into the filth and mire of vile conversation suggestions, and those sweet babies return, scarred forever by Satan’s defilement!
In TIME Magazine, there was an interesting account of an African man in Nyasaland who dressed himself up like a crocodile. Then he would lay by a river bank, and when children came near the river, he would pounce on them. He would proceed to break their bones, and literally slaughter them with his teeth. When tried for murder by the government authorities, the man said he was not guilty because at the time he was possessed by the mind of a crocodile. A psychiatrist called into the case made this statement about the man, “We must admit we are dealing with a mentality completely foreign to us.” The psychiatrist was indeed right. What they were up against was a particular manifestation of demon power.
And so I urge you to know your enemy. Recognize the powers of evil for what they are – evil spirits sent by Satan to destroy!
I want to quote to you from some of the best authorities on this subject:
My esteemed friend, Dr. William S. Reed of the American Board of Surgery says, “As a surgeon, I am convinced that many psychological and physical illnesses are caused by attacks upon the person by satanic forces of evil. In certain instances when guided to do so through prayer and mediation, I have utilized the casting out of evil (exorcism) which has provided striking results when used. Clearly, if the Master Physician, our Lord Jesus Christ, cast out demons and then commanded us to do likewise (Mk. 16:17), we should obey Him and seriously consider the meaning of this ministry in modern medicine and psychiatry.’
Dr. V. Raymond Edmon, former President of Wheaton College, Illinois, says this: “Demonism today is a dreadful reality, not the product of pagan superstition. The Bible from beginning to end tells of non-human intelligent beings who desire to inhabit or influence human beings. This is a subject that Christians should study in the light of the scriptures, and face fearlessly (but not carelessly). Ignorance on this is our real danger!”
Gordon F. Atter, in his book “Rivers of Blessing,” has this to say, and I quote, “A spirit of defeatism has sapped the vitality of many a church. Many Christians are seeing their scriptural structures crumble at their feet. Spirituality and an aggressive attack on the forces of hell and the kingdom of Satan are too seldom seen.”
Wm. C. Nelson, Senior Editor of the American Baptist Publications Society bring us to this vital word: “To allow ignorance or prejudice concerning the subject of demons is to limit the power of Christ. We need to learn how to bind demons under the blood of Christ. Spirits of pride, status, avarice, etc., need to be removed from our churches. We need to forego our pretentious attempts to institutionalize the Holy Spirit. Study and obedience to the Spirit of Christ will encourage us to ask for the gifts of discernment, wisdom and understanding. Having the gifts of the Spirit and the power of the Spirit we can be more than conquerors through Christ.”
And now I quote from Christian Life Magazine, one of the foremost publications in the Christian world today, from a series of articles by Russell J. Meade, pastor of a large church in the city of Chicago: “That there is in existence a group of personalities called demon spirits, no Bible believer can deny. The people in the day of events of the four Gospels showed no surprise at the effects of evil spirits in and upon people. But the people were amazed that Jesus could cast out devils with His word. Jesus Christ recognized demons. He spoke directly to them (Mk. 5:8-12). He charged them, rebuked them, commanded them, and cast them out. He told the Jews the fact of casting out demons was proof of the Kingdom of God. When Christ delivered one from the power of a demon, He said, “The kingdom of God is come unto you” (Matt. 12:22-29).
“Furthermore, he declared that Satan would not cast himself out else Satan’s kingdom would fall. A stronger one must go in and bind the strong one and plunder both his spoil and his weapons. This warfare of the kingdom against kingdom is seen again in the woman with the spirit of infirmity (Luke 13:11-17). Satan had bound her for 18 years, His kingdom was cast down by a work and a touch of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was on the basis of His personal victory that Christ delegated authority to His disciples. “I give you authority over the power of the enemy,” The disciples went forth and wielded His authority with great success.
“Jesus agreed with the 70 when they returned joyful over the fact that demons were subject to them. Jesus recognized demons. Paul writes of them in 1 Tim. 4:1. Luke reports it in Acts 16:11-18. James declares it in James 2:19. The abundance of revelation about demons or evil spirits in the Bible is overwhelming. Devils are found 55 times, familiar spirits 16 times, lying spirits 4 times, foul (same Greek word as unclean) 2 times, jealous spirit 2 times, etc. Demons are represented as personal, intelligent beings. They can both speak and hear (eg. Acts 19:15). Being spirits, demons are not able to express themselves or their character unless they can get the attention of a body. They long for expression and the only way they can express themselves is through a body. Their greatest desire is to enter and control a body.
“More than one spirit can possess a person at one time. (they “club” together). Evil spirits work in groups. Mary Magdalene had seven spirits. One had a legion of them. By nature these demons are unclean and vile. They torment. They can cause blindness, deafness, dumbness, and deformity. They sometimes talk or cry out. Demons vex people. Vexed means troubled, disturbed, harassed and oppressed.”
Charles Spurgeon, that great preacher of the 19th century, said, “It is my firm belief that much of the experience of a Christian is not normal Christian experience. Many Christians experience things that have nothing to do with Christianity, but more to do with demonology.” What Spurgeon says is certainly true, for I have many times observed this in helping Christians who have lost fellowship with God, and allowed their lives to be oppressed and disturbed by the enemy. One of the big signs of the last days in which we live is predicted in the Bible as a great increase in Satanic activity.
Perhaps you have never realized it before, but the Bible clearly teaches that God’s pattern of deliverance is that casting out devils comes before the healing of the sick. This is the pattern in Exodus, chapter four. This is the pattern in the ministry of Philip the Evangelist. When Jesus commissioned His disciples and His Church, He put the casting out of devils first on the list. And then in Mark 16 we read that the first sign that would follow believers would be the casting out of devils. God does not alter His order today.
The second step is to know our rights. God has made you an Over comer of all of Satan’s works and devices because of the blood of Jesus and the Word of God in your testimony. “They overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony” Rev. 12:11. Know that the victory of Calvary was not for Christ alone. It was for us. He represented us in His triumph! Now He delegates His authority and dominion to us now.
The third step is to know that your sure ground for victory ids that Jesus defeated Satan, stripped him of his authority. Listen to Col. 2:14, 15 “…And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Christ rose the Eternal Victor, and He is today on high “far above all principality , and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and “(G) hath put all things under His feet…” Eph. 1:18, 19. And, praise the Lord, the Bible goes on to say in this same epistle that we are with Christ in Whom Satan hath no part. Rest secure and steadfast on the Bible fact of “CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory!” Col. 1:27. And that “Greater is He that is within you than he that is in the world” 1 John 4:4. Daily make this your personal testimony. Say it!
Then, not ignorant of Satan’s devices, learn by the Spirit to discern the presence of evil spirits. Allow the Holy Spirit to discern the presence of evil spirits. Allow the Holy Spirit to anoint you with this priceless discernment. I believe it is one of the greatest needs among God’s children today! Realize as He says in Luke 10:19, that Christ has given you power and authority of all THE POWER OF THE DEVIL. God says it. It is a fact! Act on it! The work of evil spirits is to break your spirit, to harass your mind with evil suggestions, fear, doubt and uncertainty. Satan vexes your dedicated life with frustration; he tries to captivate your freedom in prayer; he tries to make you ineffective in your life and testimony for Christ; to defile your thoughts and words; to make you brittle and under the diabolical work of your enemy. Do not in any way yield yourself to his vexation and allurements, for he is the enemy of your Father-God and of all that is good and pure and lovely. Get a hold of yourself and have a holy rebellion against your enemy, against this very destroyer of your immortal soul!
Boldly quote the Word of God against Satan, as Jesus did when he was tempted of the devil in the wilderness, Matt. 4. You can’t talk to the devil in nice polite words – he is your adversary – he’s a thief who comes to steal, to kill and to destroy – rebel against his work with “the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Use the mighty weapons of our spiritual warfare. Use the authority of the Name of Jesus, just as the Christians did in the early history of the church! Do exactly as Christ did! Say, “Satan thus it is written…” Plead the power of the blood of Jesus! Oh what victory in His blood, in the dominion of His Name, and in His irresistible Word! His blood means the eternal defeat of the enemy.
“Up from the grave He arose….With a mighty triumph o’er His foes…He arose a Victor from the dark domain…And He lives forever with His saints to reign…He arose, Hallelujah! Christ arose!”
Yes, have a rebellion. Deal with your enemy fearlessly. You cannot compromise with the devil. You cannot serve the devil with your life without losing in the battle of life! Here’s where Bold Bible Living comes in. You must deal with this treacherous enemy with bold confidence and authority. Be strongly anointed, for the yoke shall be destroyed because of this anointing, says Isa. 10:27.
Remember: The only way to deal with the enemy is God’s way. This way is tried, tested, and proven. During the 18th century the insane in some asylums were tortured and whirled around on gyrations in order to quell the devils in them. This was man’s pathetic effort to try and drive out the evil spirits in human beings. What a failure this was! But thank God that our Lord’s method is the right way to deal with the adversary! It has never failed. It is just the same today, because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
But we must enter into active, bold daring participation with the Lord on this thing. Too long we have been listeners, spectators. Now we must rise and act on Christ’s command. No wonder the Book of Acts is called what it is: it is a history of ACTION by the power of the Holy Ghost whereby the powers of hell were shaken, and thousands were set free and made whole.
And remember…the word “Amen” was never signed to the end of the Book of Acts. This history is virtually not finished. Christ’s military orders to you are just the same today – and He commands you to cast out these vile, unclean spirits. And His is the only Word that counts in this last day’s warfare. I urge you: You must lay hold of this thing. Start now to actively enter in and do your part. Boldly enforce Calvary’s victory against every foul disturbance of Satan!
Job 22:28 declares, “Thou shalt also decree a thing and it shall be established unto thee.” Have a rebellion against your enemy who has hindered your progress and obstructed your testimony for God, against your enemy who has been cheating you out of every inch of your promised land, holding you back from enforcing your covenant rights in the Lord. Rebel against this rebel!
Put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to withstand the wiles of this enemy! Be like Joshua – go in and possess your promised land.
“I beheld Satan as lightening fall from heaven (the casting down of). Behold I give unto you power to tread on (put your feet on) serpents and scorpions, and over all power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you…the spirits are subject unto you” (Luke 10:18-20. How challenging this is!
As God was with Moses, and with Joshua, and with Daniel, and with Peter and Paul, so shall he be with you. Believe it. Act on it! Link your faith and courage with mine as we stand for deliverance in these closing days of time.
Remember: Devils are under the ultimatum of the Lord. In His Name they must obey our command, for we speak not in our Name, but in the Imperial Name of Jesus Christ! You know you have the ability to rise up and demonstrate what Jesus said you can do. This ability, that latent power must be released – and that is exactly what I am daring you to do in this message. Use what Christ has given you. Oh sue it! “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Hurl God’s ultimatum – God’s Word - against your adversary. Do it! Toughen up, and rebel against Satan! Behind you is Christ.
Rebuke the cause of your trouble and disturbance. That’s what Jesus did. This is an important point. Notice that Jesus recognized and taught that the real battle was in the spiritual realm – where Satan seeks to control people’s spiritual life and their thought life. And then notice that Jesus always – always – rebuked the cause; and He addressed it personally. He went to the personality, the demon spirit, behind the infirmity, the affliction, the disturbance, the storm. With abundant proof from the Word of God that evil spirits are behind all this, then it stands to reason that when we drive out the cause, then the question of deliverance and recovery from disease is solved.
Deliverance From Demon Control
A mom and dad stood before me in a prayer line with their nine year old son. The little boy’s eyes were hard, rebellious, yet pitiful.
The parents then told mea heartbreaking story. Their little son was uncontrollable. He had been expelled from school. Often they had to tie him up with a rope – like an animal – in order to control his actions. His case was hopeless as far a psychiatrists were concerned. Nothing could be done for him. As the parents explained to me this very sad case, I was aware by the Spirit of God that here was a problem of demon control.
I looked at the boy. Demonical powers suddenly raged within him. I knew what I was faced with. This was not a case for psychologists nor doctors. This was a case that only the Great Physician could handle. Not through treatments, shot nor medicines, but through the authority Christ had given to us.
Instantly I placed my hands on the boy’s head. “In the Name of Jesus,” I commanded, “I charge you demonical powers to come out of this boy. Satan, you have no right to control this boy any longer. In the Name of your master, Jesus Christ, I command your full power broken over this boy’s life, and in that might Name be loosed, set free, liberated!:
Praise God, the results were instantaneous. The boy was loosed. A smile broke across his face. He lovingly turned to his parents, whom he had rebelled against for so long. Jesus had broken the bonds.
Nearly a year later I returned to this same city for another crusade. On the first night, these folks walked up to me with their son. I actually didn’t recognize him; he looked so much healthier and happier. The parents shared with me the glad news…Christ had indeed set him free that night a year before. He had been a different child ever since. He was back in school. His record of behaviour at school and home was perfect.
“We can hardly believe he’s the same boy,” the mother added, “He just behaves like a perfect little gentleman at all times.”
Yes, friend, demonical powers assail many lives, including the children. Thank God, we are not left unfortified against these evil forces. In the Name of Jesus, we have been given authority to expel every Satanic power from lives.
I’m sold on being bold in the Name of Jesus. Mighty miracles of healing and deliverance are recorded all of the time when we boldly use the Name of Jesus. Hallelujah!
Scores of time I’ve come face to face with cases of demon control, demon possession, oppression and obsession. In this imperial Name, I have seen these captives unshackled.
You can do that! Be bold when you come up against demon control cases. Be fearless, courageous, confident and daring. “The righteous are bold as a lion” Pr. 28:1. Be God’s instrument to loose the prisoners…everywhere!
A few years ago I was in a campaign with Pastor A.E. Wunder, a real man of the Spirit. Our crusade received newspaper publicity; the editor said it was only right that the people of his city should know what the Lord was doing for the people, especially the healing miracles.
One day Brother Wunder was led of God to go down the coast to take food to a young pastor and his family, who had opened a pioneer work in an unevangelized area.
When he go to their home, he heard them praying. He listened for a moment when he stepped on the front porch. The young wife was praying for food!
Since Brother Wunder was well armed with boxes of food, he simply burst in the front door and exclaimed, “You can get up folks, the answer has come. I’ve brought the food.”
The Folks arose and rejoiced that God had indeed answered their prayers.
While the young wife was preparing the food, Brother Wunder noticed that she looked very depressed when she would walk by the icebox.
“Sister,” he said, “You seem depressed every time you walk by that fridge. Why is that?”
“I wasn’t aware that I looked depressed,’ she replied, “But it must be because that thing has been empty so often, when I needed food for my children.’
Brother Wunder felt led of God to throw down a challenge to her faith. “Sister, I believe if you will shout hallelujah at the icebox every time you walk past it, that God will respond, and fill that ice box up, and keep it filled for you.”
The young wife looked at him in amazement. It sounded ridiculous.
Brother Wunder countered, “I know it seemed foolish for the Israelites to march around Jericho, and shout to see those walls fall down. But they did so, and down the walls came. I know it seemed ridiculous for Jehosophat to have the singers and praisers to lead the way singing and praising in the face of three great armies. But God was pleased, and brought them great victory and deliverance that day. I am reminded that it was a peculiar thing for Paul and Silas to be praising God at midnight in that filthy old jail, but God responded and sent the earthquake and freedom. So sister, I believe God will meet you if you will say hallelujah every time you walk by the ice box?”
The lady respected Brother Wunder as a real man of God, so she started quietly saying hallelujah every time she walked by the fridge. In a short time, the blessing of this experience was so abundant, that she was fairly shouting it our, hallelujah.
A few days later, Brother Wunder returned to see how things were going. The young couple saw him arrive, and met him on the porch with a couple of healthy hallelujahs.
Then the wife told him the story. “I kept on shouting hallelujah every time I walked past the icebox. And the Lord moved upon an unsaved man in this town to bring us all of the frozen meats, foods and things we could get in the fridge. It is just bulging to the seams.”
Months later, I saw Brother Wunder again and asked how the young pastor and his family were getting along.
“I saw them recently,” Pastor Wunder said, “The young wife is still praising God and shouting hallelujah a the icebox, and God is keeping it filled!”
That is bold faith. I am sold on being bold, even in praising God. Bold praising evidences bold faith.
I have related this account on different occasions. It has inspired others to begin shouting hallelujah at their barriers and obstacles.
A man in Tulsa without employment had gone to a certain plant several times, and was always turned away…unemployed.
Of his own accord he took up this challenge. The next time he went to this plant, he stood outside the gate and shouted softly hallelujahs, then walked into the office. Surely enough , that day he was hired!
Regina a young married man hear this same account. He had been unable to secure a job at his trade. Daily he had gone to the labor office, but always met the same reply: no openings.
Courageously he told his wife, “After hearing the Brother Gossett relate that experience of the power of praise, I’m going to stop before I go into that office, and shout a few hallelujahs. I believe God will see to it that I have a job.”
He did just that, and when he walked into the office, the phone rang. The man at the desk, answering the phone, suddenly motioned to my friend. “I just now have a call for your trade. Can you go to work today?” Praise God, my friend went to work that day!
Is there something magical about shouting hallelujah? No, not as far as any formula. Simply that God is a faith God. Shouting hallelujahs or praising Him shows our genuine faith in His supply and loving provisions.
“The Lord inhabiteth the praises of Israel” Ps. 22:3. That is, the Lord lives in, dwells in, manifests Himself in response to our bold praises.
I am sold on being bold, yes, in praising God, in shouting hallelujahs, right in the face of adversity, illness, lack, needs. I know what God will do!
Deceiving And Being Deceived
One of the most solemn facts we must face in these last days is that a great work of deception is being wrought by the master deceiver himself, even Satan. II Timothy 3:13 warns: “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”
The Bible is so clear as it points out what shall take place in these last days. When I consider the importance of sharing such a message with you, I urge you to read the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:4: “Take heed that no man deceive you.” It would be well that we are not the victim of deception in any form, so Jesus warns us, “Take heed that no man deceive you.”
When we consider how we can be deceived, we have to remember first of all that our own heart is the area where the work of deceit is done.
Jeremiah 17:9 warns us: “The heart is deceitful above all things.” This is why it is important that we daily ask God to do a real work of heart searching, praying the great prayer, “Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me, O God, and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Ephesians 5:6 tells us: “Let no man deceive you with vain words.” One of the ways we are deceived, perhaps above all others, is by words. Words are powerful instruments. Words can bless; words can build up; words can blight. Yes, we can be deceived with vain words, so we are commanded by the Lord: “Let no man deceive you with vain words.”
When we consider that evil men and seducers area waxing worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived, we must have the Word of God in our hearts that will keep us on the right track. This is the standard that will keep us from the enemy’s pitfalls. The Bible says in II John 7: “Many deceivers are entered into the world.”
Another way that Satan is seeking to deceive many in these days is to get Christians to heed seducing spirits. In I Timothy 4, we read these words: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron,” When I read these words carefully, it broke my heart to consider that some of my fellow Christians abao9lutelyshall depart from the faith. But, my Friend, you that read these words just now, I want you to know that in these end times one of the strong manifestation of Satan is that people shall give heed to seducing spirits and shall thereby depart from the faith. Friend, you do not need to be one of those who depart from t eh faith. However, this will not happen just by chance. We must be spiritually fortified. We must know God’s Word. We must deal with sin in our heart. We must put away every sin, and heed the command of God.
In order to resist and overcome this all-out warfare against our souls by seducing spirits that are deceiving so many, we must be fanatically honest. II Corinthians 8:21: “Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the lord but also in the sight of man.” Remember always, honesty is of God. Dishonesty, lying and deceit are of the devil. Peter told Ananias in Acts 5:3: “Satan hath filled thine heart to lie.” When you lie, are dishonest or exaggerate, you are giving place to the devil. Ephesians 4:27 commands us: “Neither give place to the devil.” It is dangerous to lend your lips and your life to Satan. In that treacherous realm, evil spirits can control and torment you.
So let us have it very clear in our minds. According to God’s word, lying or being dishonest is more than a moral wrong; it’s giving heed to seducing spirits. How can we overcome these seducing spirits? Plead the power of the blood of Jesus against these spirits. Stand fast for truth in Jesus’ Name.
Here are a few of God’s bold commands, challenging us to a life of honesty in order to overcome the deceiving spirits of this hour. Romans 13:13 “Let us walk honestly.” Luke 8:15: “An honest and good heart.” Leviticus 19:13; “Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour.” Romans 12:17: “Provide things honest in the sight o fall men.” II Corinthians 13:7; “I pray to God that you do that which is honest.” I Timothy 2:2; “Lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty.” I Thessalonians 4:11, 12: “Study to be quiet ad to do your own business that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without.”
Further, God wards us plainly about lying. Proverbs 12:22: “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord but they that deal truly are His delight.’ Of the seven things God hates, three of them are: “A lying tongue, a false witness that speaketh lies and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:17 and 19. Notice three of the seven things that God hates: a lying tongue, a false witness that speaketh lies and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Among those outside of God’s eternal heaven, are “Whoremongers and murders, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie” Revelation 22:15. It seems a catastrophe that men would actually love and make a lie but when their natures are contaminated by the seducing spirits of this day, then it becomes a part of their tainted nature to love lies; yes, to create lies all of the time. Revelation 21:8: “All liars shall have their part in the lake of fie.” Here is a powerful command, Colossians 3:9: “Lie not one to another.”
Here is a Bible prayer; “Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips.” Psalms 120:2. In light of all of these strong commands of the Bible, there is the importance of resisting the satanic work of the destroyer of our souls in these days. Let us make it our resolve, Psalms 119:163; “I hate and abhor lying.”
The Victory Of The Violent
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent shall take it by force.” Mt. 11:12.
“The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.” Lk. 16:16
Are you violent in your faith?
Perhaps this is the missing key in keeping you from unlocking all of heaven’s treasures to your life. From these above scriptures, we see the great esteem Jesus put upon violent faith, this faith that presses into take your needs from God.
Consider some people who were violent in their faith:
Blind Bartimaeus, the man without sight on the Jericho road, received his blessing and sight for his eyes because he pressed in to have the ministry of the Great Physician. Lesser folks would have given up. The very disciples of Jesus tries to discourage Bartimaeus, rebuked him and told him to shut up. But this man had violent faith – that undenying, persistent attitude that presses in and gains the victory.
Zaccheus, the little man who climbed the Sycamore tree to see Jesus, had the honor and distinction of having Jesus as his guest in his home because of his violent determination to see Jesus.
The Syrophoenecian mother, obtained a mighty deliverance for her demon possessed daughter, by violently pressing in to obtain the Word of deliverance from Jesus. This was one person whom Jesus rebuked, but He did it to bring out that great quality of violent faith. She was persistent and undenying in her faith, and Jesus delivered her daughter.
The poor sick woman with the issue of blood, that had spent all of her money with the doctors, obtained healing from the lord through her violent faith. For her it meant going down to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment, right in the midst of a thronging crowd; but she did so, and she was healed and commended by Christ for her violent faith.
Four men with violent faith brought forgiveness of sins and healing for the helpless paralytic, when they took the roof off to get the man to Jesus. Jesus “saw their faith” and rewarded them with the miracle for their friend. Violent faith always gains the attention of Jesus, even yet today.
All through the Old and New Testaments, we read story after story of people who were violent in their faith that obtained God’s best and were blessed of Him. Jacob, with his intense cry, “I will not let Thee go, until Thou bless me,” and Elisha with his daily persistence to have the double portion blessing, are among Old Testament examples of violent faith.
Heb. 11:6 –“Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that cometh to Him must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him.”
Be violent against Satanic oppressions.
It is all of faith, but there is the fight of faith! In a sentence violent faith is simply this principle: God does business with those who mean business!
To be violent in your faith, you must be: 1) persistent, 2) wholehearted, 3) undenying, 4) bold.
Tremendous victories go to the violent! Be violent in your faith!
A Right
Spirit
Make it your daily prayer, “Lord, renew within me a right spirit,” Ps. 51:10. Often several times in daily routine, it is important to pray this Bible prayer, for it is quite easy to allow a wrong spirit to come into our hearts. A spirit of pride, self-justification, anger, bitterness, unkindness, jealousy, unforgiveness, fear and many other wrong spirits can take up occupancy in our lives.
A wrong spirit will surely stop the flow of God’s power through your life. There is no more classic example of how wrong spirits can nullify the Lord’s sure promises and power than recorded in Luke 9.
Luke 9:1-2 – “Then Jesus called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And He sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.”
Now clearly from this passage, we see that Jesus gave a two-fold commission to His disciples both to heal and cure diseases, and cast out devils. Yet in verse 40 of this chapter, we read of the disciples’ attempt to cast the demons out of a boy, and they were total failures! “And I besought thy disciples to cast him out, and they could not.”
Why was it, when clearly Jesus had given such power to His disciples, yet they failed in their first attempt? When we probe further into this chapter, we discover reasons why they could not be used of God to deliver the demon-possessed boy. They had at that time wrong spirits in their hearts. A wrong spirit can prevent the Lord’s Word from fulfillment.
A SPIRIT OF PRIDE – In vs. 46, “Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.” This spirit of pride, of self-importance is nauseating in the sight of the Lord. “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” Js. 4:6, “He that exalteth himself shall be abased,” said Jesus. In real Christian living, there is no room for competition one with another, to see who is greatest. We are what we are by the grace of God. Out boasting is to be only in the Lord, not in ourselves.
A SECTARIAN SPIRIT – Vs. 49, “And John answered, and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in Thy Name; and we forbade him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us for us.” This sectarian devil is so deceptive. This spirit today is one of the great robbers of spiritual blessing and power. The great law of Christ is “LOVE ONE FOR ANOTHER.” Sectarianism divides the body of Christ, arraying Christians one against another.
The Lord taught mea long time ago how important it is that fellowship with other Christians be based primarily upon the fact that we are washed in the same blood from our sins, and all have received the same Christ. LOVE is the badge of our true discipleship; not sectarianism.
A DESTROYING SPIRIT – Vs. 54-56, “Lord, with Thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume the, even as did Elias? But He turned and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.’ How prevalent is this spirit today! When you or I or anyone else sets out to destroy another Christian, we are of the wrong spirit, we have given place to Satan, who is the destroyer. Read Jn. 10:10. We are to seek to build others up (Eph. 4:29), we are to bear the infirmities of the weak (Rom. 15.1, we are to be burden-bearers (Gal. 6:20.
Read over carefully the ninth chapter of Luke. See how wrong spirits in the hearts of the disciples made the promises of Christ of no effect.
Search your own heart for wrong spirits that will keep the healing and delivering power of Christ from being manifest in your behalf. How vital it is that we pray often, “Lord, renew within me a right spirit!”
Satan seeks to vex you with wrong spirits, even evil spirits. But God will give you a right spirit…daily and hourly.
Deliverance
From Fear
I want to show you how through God’s Word you can conquer fear once and for all. It is astonishing how any are oppressed and harassed by fear. The Bible says, “Fear hath torment.”
Just what is fear? Fear is defined as the expectation, or apprehension of evil. How true this is. Satan wants you to have this diabolical spirit of fear which expects and magnifies evil, failure, sickness, danger and terror. It was the late President Franklin Roosevelt who said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
Psychologists and medical authorities tell us that a baby is born with only two fears; the fear of falling, and the fear of a loud noise. All other fears are acquired as one grows up. The Bible says: “God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind.” Fear is a living spirit, and it comes from the devil, of whom Jesus says: “The thief cometh not but for to steal, to kill and to destroy.” Oh let us be wise to Satan’s devices. The Bible says, “Neither give place to Satan.” Resist the spirit of ear as you would a plague.
The Bible example of Job clearly shows the calamity that resulted in his life because of his fears. Fear became very active in Jobs thinking. The Satanic hangover of the Garden of Eden caused him to doubt God. Fear possessed Job’s mind and he gravitated to the results of his fearful thinking. Job declared, “The thing which I greatly feared is come upon me.” (3:25). How this testifies to us is that we cannot escape the results of fearful thinking. Fear is the absence of faith. Fear eventually destroys.
Fear paralyzes abilities that they cannot be used effectively. Fear quickly renders its victims in capable of properly doing anything. Oh what a treacherous and deceitful thing fear is! Many people do not recognize fear when it poses as prudence, caution, and discretion. We must come to grips on this issue and recognize which is of God and which is of the devil. Satan uses every subtle device to combat and hinder the good things of God. I believe that fear and pride are the greatest allies of the self-nature to keep people from completely yielding themselves to harmony with God and a full rich life with Christ.
Revelation 21:8 gives us a remarkable lesson about fear. It is not by accident that the “fearful” are at the top of the list of those under the indictment of a holy God, of those who are sentenced to eternal separation from the Lord and assigned to the penitentiary of the universe. Because fear heads the top of this list, it reveals that fear leads to the other crimes in the list. Fear is the creator of bad things and open the door to immorality, lying, corruption and murder. Fear is the absence of faith, and the Bible say whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Rom. 14:23). Because fear believes that we cannot hand over our problems and uncertainties to God, it puts God out of our lives and leaves us groping in wild and blind frustration.
The weapon that can totally and permanently conquer fear is a rugged, daring faith in God’s word. “Taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the firey darts of the wicked.” Faith based on God’s Word is indestructible and irresistible.
From the ash-pile of misery Job began confessing God’s Word. First he said, “I know that my Redeemer liveth.” (19:10). Then he said “…when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (23:10)
Fear is a great plague that is upon many today. Fear is one of the devil’s fiercest weapons used to destroy peace, confidence and victory. Fear need to be hunted down and destroyed, or eventually it will do its destructive work in our lives.
Fear is no light thing to those experiencing it. Satan uses the spirit of fear and masquerades it in the form of Doubt, Anxiety, Indecision and Alarm. From here fear takes on monstrous proportions. However, the Bible says that we are not to be ignorant of Satan’s devices, for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of the devil’s strongholds.
I want to show you God’s invincible weapon against fear. This is the weapon of God’s word, which affirms to be “quick and powerful.” And God’s Word is clearly His revealed will about His power and mercy to meet our every need. I wan t you to see that for every form of fear forged by Satanic ingenuity God has an answer in His Word. Believe what God says, agree with is Word to you and you can start on the road to deliverance from fear, for “God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power, of love, and of a sound mind,” is the statement of II Timothy 1:7.
Do you fear incapable? Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” What ever the Lord wants you to do He will give you the ability and strength to do it.
Do you fear weakness? God promises strength every day for you: “A your day, so shall be your strength.” The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psa.27:1). “The joy of the Lord is your Strength” (Neh. 8:10). Right now do as Paul commanded the Ephesian believers: “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might!”
Do not listen to the devil’s voice any longer. It was King David who said in one of the Psalms: “I will hear what God the LORD will speak…”
Do you far insecurity? Again the Bible says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus? (Philippians 4:19).
De you fear sickness and disease? The express will of God tells us in Acts chapter then that “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy Ghost and with power, Who went about doing good, healing all who were oppressed with the devil.’ “Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses” (Matt. 8:170, and “with His stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:5). Jesus has come to take off from us what the devil put on us. David affirmed of the Lord “Who forgiveth all our iniquities: Who healeth all our diseases” (Psa. 103). God says; “I AM THE LORD THAT HEALETH THEE” (Exod. 15:26). No longer do you have to fear sickness and disease if you will take God at His Word. Say with Mary the mother of Jesus: “Lord, be it unto me according to Thy Word!”
Do you fear man? Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” Dear friend, that “whoso” includes you. Do you fear harm or danger? This same verse tells us “whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” Again it says in Proverbs: “The Name of the lord is a strong Tower: the righteous runneth into It, and is safe” (18:10).
The story is told of a stag that roamed in security by reason of a label on its neck. The label read, “Touch me not, I belong to Caesar.” Friend, if you are believing on the Lord Jesus Christ you are God’s property, the devil has no right to your life. “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift us a standard against him.” Jesus is your supernatural shelter against all the storms and dangers of life.
Do your fear death? Outside of Christ death certainly is an enemy to be feared. But listen to what the Bible say is for you in Christ. Exercise bold Bible faith and be delivered right now from the fear of death. The Bible says: “Jesus likewise took part of flesh and blood; that through death He might destroy him that had (past tense) the power of death, that is the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb. 2:14, 15). Jesus brings you and me a glorious announcement: “I am alive, and because I live, you shall live also.”
Do you fear Evil? That evil that comes with the frightening tread of the giant Goliath. No one can ignore the evil that glowers, but we must not fear it. In Christ we have divine authority to battle against all evil. Go to the 91st Psalm that tells us of the blessed abiding place in the Lord where no plague shall come nigh our dwelling, nor no evil befalls us. A German physician has said that the 91st Psalm is the best preservative in times of disease and cholera, and that its truth is heavenly medicine against plague and pest. The Psalm reveals the Eternal Protector with divine dominion over all evil. The supernatural army of God’s heaven surrounds those who put their trust in God’s Son.
And then in that beloved 23rd Psalm, David says, “I will fear no evil for Thou art with me.” What strength and courage we draw from these words. It reminds me of a stanza from a hymn which says; “I’ve seen the lightening flashing, and heard the thunder roll; I’ve felt sin’s breakers dashing, trying to conquer my soul; I’ve heard the voice of my Saviour, telling me still to fight on; He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone.”
In the light of God’s Word you do not have to go on being the victim of fear. Get into the Word of God and let it get in you.
Satan cannot resist the Word of the Lord. It was God’s Word which Jesus so effectively used when severely tempted of the devil. The Word says: “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4). Fear is of Satan. Power, love, soundness of mind, strength and fearlessness is of God. Say with David: “I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psa. 34:4).
Resist
Unclean Spirits
I am praying for you, as you read these lines. May this message cause you to love purity rather than unclean passion. May you follow God in a holy life. May you be determined to resist the wiles of the devil through Jesus Christ.
This is the game called “wife-swapping” being played across the nation. The husbands all place their house keys on a table. Then they are blind-folded. One by one they pick up a key. And the key to whose house it belongs, the man spends the weekend with the wife of that house. The rules are so arranged that it must be a key to another man’s house and a weekend spent with another man’s wife!
A Wound
And Dishonor
This is God’s warning to sinner and saint alike: “Whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding; he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and a dishonor he shall get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away” (Proverbs 6).
Sir, you might feel you are “getting by” with your adulterous life. You may feel that your clandestine affair is going unnoticed. But don’t forget it: God sees it, God knows about it, and God says, “A wound and a dishonor you shall get and your reproach shall not be wiped away.”
Sadly I recount it; I’ve known dear Christians who have become entangled in this licentious type of living…committing acts of adultery, living an unclean, impure life. God is very clear: A wound and a dishonor you shall get and your reproach shall never be wiped away.
Remember
Joseph
While many thousands may be engaging in unclean living, there are yet thousands of us who name the Name of Christ who, like Joseph of the Old Testament, have by God’s grace maintained a life of purity. Joseph is a prime example to every young man, every young woman to know that temptation may come and seize upon you with an almost irresistible force, yet God can keep you in the hour of temptation. God will keep you if you really choose to be kept! Hallelujah!
The Christian life, lived by the ability of the indwelling Christ, is so supernatural, so above the natural order, that we can show forth blessed lives of purity as a testimony to this filthy-minded, sex-mad world.
I am praying for you young people that God will give you the same grace He gave to Joseph. Like Daniel, purpose in your heart that you will not defile your clean Godly life. Heed Paul’s directive to Timothy, “Flee also youthful lusts,” and “Keep thyself pure.”
How
To Cast Out Evil Spirits............... by DON
GOSSETT
First:
Know your enemy. “Not ignorant of Satan’s devices” (2 Co. 2:11), learn by the Spirit to discern the presence and work of evil spirits (1 Co. 12:10).
Second:
Know your rights. You’re an over comer of all of Satan’s works because of the blood of Jesus, and the Word of your testimony (Rev. 12:11). Christ has given you power AND authority over all the power of the devil (Lk. 10:19. Dare to use it!
Third:
Evil spirits break and crush your spirit; harass your mind with evil suggestions, fear, doubt and uncertainty. Satan is a thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy (Jn. 10:10). Evil spirits are the cause of frustration; robbing your freedom in prayer; destroying your health, your peace of mind, the harmony of our home.
Fourth:
Boldly quote the Words of God against Satan, as Jesus did (Mt. 4). The Word is weapon No. 1 (2 Co. 10:40, the Spirit uses when the enemy comes in like a flood (Isa. 59:19). Often quote the Word of God aloud to rout the enemy!
Fifth:
Jesus said, “In my Name shall lye cast out devils’ (demons, evil spirits) Mk. 16:17. Stand our ground fearlessly when you speak in the Name of Jesus! Evil spirits know they must submit to the Name (Ph. 2:9-11).
Sixth:
The Bible calls sickness, not a blessing, but a bond of Satan, and from this bond every captive “ought to be loosed” (Lk. 13:16, Acts 10:38). Be God’s instrument to cast out every spirit of infirmity, and minister healing to the oppressed!
Seventh:
“Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (Js. 4:7). Refuse to be Satan’s “dumping ground” where foul spirits produce mental unsoundness, nervous disorders, spirits of gloom, heaviness and depression. Have a rebellion in the Name!
Eighth:
Plead the power of the blood of Jesus. We are in a real warfare (Eph. 6:12 – 16). Be strongly anointed of the Spirit for “the anointing shall destroy the yoke” (Isa. 10:27). Wax bold against evil spirits! God has made you “more than a conqueror through Christ” (Rom. 8:37). Victory is certain through our resurrected Christ!
The
Devil’s Wrath
“…For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. Revelation 12:12.
· A timely exposure of Satan’s stepped-up activity in these last days
· A MUST For every believer to know and be enforced
· Power over demons through spiritual anointing
Who is responsible for the almost unbelievable human atrocities, the unspeakable crimes?
Who gets into men and causes them to do the destructive things they do in society?
Who fires men’s brains and senses with a lust for drugs and drink and delinquency?
Who make people lose all control and commit shameful acts of immorality?
Who drives men to prison, to the electric chair, and to the gas chambers?
Who leaves a shamble of broken homes and crumbled marriages?
Who is the moving spirit behind the immoral literature and shameful entertainment it the world?
Who drives men to cheat, and rob and steal?
Who fires the brains of reckless dictators that plunge the world into wars that take countless thousands of human lives, and leave millions maimed and disabled?
Who is behind all the sorrow, bitterness, pain, violence and confusion that you read about on the front page of your newspaper?